Universal Housing

ABSTRACT

A system and method for a universal housing. The universal housing has a central void. The system also includes a sleeve sized to be received within the central void. The universal housing can be used to house a ball joint and a uniball interchangeably. This allows the consumer to switch between a ball joint or a uniball joint without replacing the support arm. This aids in flexibility and versatility as well as decreases the product and labor costs associated with changing from one type to another.

PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional No.63/332,219, filed Apr. 18, 2022, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system and method for a compatiblehousing for ball joints and uniball joints.

Description of Related Art

Wheels are connected to a vehicle's suspension via ball joints oruniball joints. The housing which receives either the ball joints oruniball joints are dissimilar. Accordingly, the owner must make thedecision whether to go with a ball joint or uniball early in thedecision to obtain the proper mount. Ball joints and uniballs havedifferent advantages and disadvantages. If an owner or mechanic wants toswitch from a ball joint to a uniball, as an example, the entire housingmust be swapped. Consequently, there is a need for a better housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbe best understood by reference to the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing in one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sleeve in one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a control arm coupled to a housing and aball joint in one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a control arm coupled to housing and auniball in one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several embodiments of Applicant's invention will now be described withreference to the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, like elements will beidentified by identical numbers throughout all figures. The inventionillustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absenceof any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

Ball joints, either conventional or uniball, connect a wheel to thesuspension of a vehicle. The vehicle can include a car, truck, ATV, etc.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing in one embodiment. As shownthe housing 100 has a void 103 which receives either a ball joint or auniball, as described in more detail below. The void 103 extends fromthe top surface of the housing 100 to the bottom surface of the housing.The size of the void 103 can vary depending upon the application. Forexample, a smaller ATV will have a smaller void 103 than a large truck.In one, non-limiting embodiment, the housing 100 has a length, asmeasured as the dominant axis, of about 3.25 inches. The void 103 has adiameter opening of about 1 to about 3 inches. In one embodiment thevoid 103 has a diameter of about 1.628 inches. As noted, thesedimensions are for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemedlimiting.

The housing 100 can comprise virtually any material. It can comprisemetal, plastics, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment the housing100 comprises steel.

The housing 100 also comprises a coupler 104. The coupler 104 is anydevice, void, fastener, etc. which allows the housing 100 to couple toother equipment, such as a control arm, discussed in more detail below.In one embodiment the coupler 104 comprises a void which can receive acontrol arm or other equipment.

Turning to FIG. 2 , FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sleeve 101 in oneembodiment. A sleeve 101, as used herein, refers to material which fitswithin the void 103 of the housing 100. In one embodiment the sleeve 101is used with a conventional ball joint, as described in more detailbelow. The sleeve 101 can comprise virtually any material. It cancomprise the same or different material as the housing 100.

In one embodiment the sleeve 101 is sized so as to fit within theinternal diameter of the void 103. The sleeve 101 can be maintained inthe desired location within the void 103 via friction or a separatemechanical fastener such as a bolt, screw, or the like. In oneembodiment the two are coupled together via press fit.

Turning now to FIG. 3 , FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a control armcoupled to a housing and a ball joint in one embodiment. FIG. 3 shows acontrol arm 102 which couples to the housing 100. While a control arm102 is depicted, this is for illustrative purposes only and should notbe deemed limiting. The universal housing 100 discussed herein cancouple to any traditional equipment to which housings couple.

In FIG. 3 a ball joint 105 is utilized. A ball joint 105, in oneembodiment, comprises of a ball and a socket. Ball joints 105 are oftenbetter for off-roading with medium loads. Some people believe that theuniball systems are better for extreme off-roading but have reducedservice life compared to ball joints which generally featured sealed orsemi-sealed construction. The uniball, conversely, generally features anopen structure which allows dirt, dust, etc. to enter and wear down theinternal components.

The ball joint has a range of motion of approximately 90 degrees in someembodiments whereas the uniball typically has a decreased range ofmotion. Maintenance is also different as the uniball requires moremaintenance. As can be seen, there is no one sized-fits-all approach.There are instances where a conventional ball joint is superior andsituations where the uniball is superior. Consequently, there is muchdebate about which solution should be implemented.

Previously, a corresponding housing had to be selected depending uponwhich joint is utilized: ball joint or uniball. If a consumer opted fora uniball, then a corresponding housing was utilized. The housing wouldthen often be welded to the control arm. That consumer was then stuckwith the uniball. If the consumer's needs changed over time and theconsumer then desired to switch to a ball joint, the user would thenhave to replace the control arms 102, the housing, and install the newball joint on the new housing and the new control arms 102. This is anexpensive switch.

Because consumers have to previously make the decision, ball joint oruniball, early in the process, they often regretted that decision. Asnoted above, changing that decision later is costly.

The universal housing 101 described herein can accept either a balljoint 105 or a uniball (106 in FIG. 4 ). This has several advantages.First, if a consumer opts to go with a ball joint, as an example, thatdecision is less consequential than it previously was. If the consumerdecides to subsequently switch to a uniball, then neither the controlarm 102 nor the housing 100 need to be changed. Instead, the ball joint105 and sleeve 100 are simply removed, and the uniball 106 installed.This is a significant cost savings and removes one of the hurdlesbetween making the change from one type to another. Not only are theadditional material costs avoided, but the labor costs associated withchanging the control arms 102, for example, are also eliminated.

Second, if a ball joint, for example, were to go out, previously, theconsumer was forced to replace it with another ball joint if theconsumer wanted to avoid the extra costs associated with the switch.However, with the universal housing 100 discussed herein, if the balljoint were to go out, and the consumer wanted to give the uniball a try,the consumer could do so without the added labor and material costspreviously associated with the switch.

In the embodiment depicted, FIG. 3 shows the control arm 102 coupled tothe universal housing 100. As used herein, the term universal housingrefers to a housing which can accept a ball joint or a uniball withoutany structural modification being required to the housing.

As shown, a portion of the control arm 102 is received into the coupler104 of the housing 100. The control arm 102 is then coupled to thehousing 100 via any method or device known in the art. In one embodimentthe control arm 102 is welded to the housing 100.

Once the universal housing 100 has been coupled to the control arm 102,the ball joint is installed. As shown in FIG. 3 , a conventional balljoint is utilized. The sleeve 100 is coupled to the ball joint 105, andthen coupled to the housing 100. The sleeve 100 re-sizes the void 103 ofthe housing 100 so that it properly accepts the ball joint 105.

A cap 107 can then be coupled to the ball joint 105, securing the balljoint 105 in its desired place adjacent the housing 100. The cap cancomprise a cap, snap ring, locking ring, etc., depending upon the balljoint design.

Turning now to FIG. 4 , FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a control armcoupled to a housing and a uniball in one embodiment. FIG. 4 is similarto FIG. 3 , but in FIG. 4 a uniball 106 is utilized. In this embodiment,when the uniball 106 is utilized there is no need for the sleeve 100.This is because the void 103 in the housing 100 is sized to receive theuniball 106 without re-sizing.

As can be seen, if the ball joint 105 in FIG. 3 is going to be replacedwith the uniball 106 of FIG. 4 , the first step is removing the cap 107and removing the ball joint 105. The sleeve 101 is then removed. Withthe sleeve 101 being removed, the uniball 106 can simply be insertedinto the void 103 of the housing 100 and installed.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A system for universal housing, said system comprising: a universalhousing comprising a central void; a sleeve sized to be received withinsaid central void; wherein said universal housing can couple to a balljoint by utilizing said sleeve or a uniball by removing said sleeve,wherein said universal housing is configured to separately be coupled toa ball joint and a uniball without any structural modification beingrequired to the universal housing.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein saiduniversal housing further comprising a coupler.
 3. The system of claim 1wherein said universal housing is coupled to a control arm.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is removeably coupled with saiduniversal housing.
 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising the balljoint which couples to said sleeve and said central void.
 6. The systemof claim 1 wherein said sleeve is removed and further comprising theuniball which couples directly to said central void.
 7. (canceled) 8.The system of claim 1 wherein said ball joint and said uniball can beinstalled interchangeably.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said systemfurther comprises a control arm coupled to said universal housing, andwherein said ball joint and said uniball can be interchanged withoutreplacing said control arm.